As we prepare for Thanksgiving this Thursday, I am realizing just how much I have to be thankful for. So I thought with every post I make this week, I would list some specific things I can praise the Lord and thank Him for in my life. It's the least I can do, since I know I spend so much time complaining, and so very little time being grateful. So here goes:
I am thankful for my family - my husband, Craig, and my daughters, Rachel & Grace. They are a constant source of joy, laughter, tears, fun, trauma (ha ha), blessings, surprises, and stability. Together we hold each other up and with God's mercy and grace, we can make it through any trial. I love them all.
I am thankful for warm things - sunny, hot, summer days and hot sidewalks. A raging fire and warm scarves. Steaming, hot coffee (with flavored cream, of course!), and my heated throw (thank you, honey!).
I am thankful my youngest daughter learned to ride her bike recently without training wheels - Hooray! Check out the video clip below if you want to see her in action.
I am thankful that when I am weary of this world, I can remember that this is not my forever home. Jesus is preparing a place for me, an awesome Heavenly Home, and by God's grace and the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross for me, I know that my eternity is going to be spent there - WOW! That knowledge is enough to keep me going and fill my heart with thanks.
I am thankful for stuffing! A complete Thanksgiving meal to me would be a pot of stuffing and a spoon...ok, the spoon would be optional, but I do have manners! Enough said.
I am thankful for music. I love to sing, listen to music, listen to my daughters sing...if there is music playing, I'm happy. (Ok, unless the music is offensive or headache-inducing, but everyone has their own taste, so I won't be specific). Thank you God, that You encourage us to worship You with song, that we have the ability to use our voices in such a marvelous way. Some days, I feel like I've done nothing but opened my mouth to yell at my family and grouse at the world, when what I'd really rather do is just sing all day long. Oh, that I could praise more and punish less!
I'm thankful there is forgiveness. I need a lot of it.
I'm thankful my daughters call me mommy...don't stop for a loooooong time!
I'm thankful for parents and sisters and extended family and learning still what it means to be part of a large family...sometimes I'm a slow learner.
I'm thankful God is so patient with me, way more patient than I am with others.
I'm thankful He is a patient and persistent Teacher even when I am not the best student.
I am thankful for our home and our crazy chickens and our sweet dog and the other animals we have. They are a responsibility, but they are a joy.
Did I mention I am extremely thankful for stuffing?
More to come this week! I hope it will stir you to be mindful of the many things you have to be thankful for, and you will thank the One who has provided all that we have.
Have a Thankful week!
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
-1 Thessalonians 5:18
